Indianapolis Colts
The Colts are one of the most difficult teams to grade through Week 8. Coming into the year, the only meaningful question in Indianapolis was whether or not Andrew Luck could perform like a healthy, franchise quarterback. Fortunately for Frank Reich, that answer has been answered in the affirmative.
Unfortunately, the talent surrounding Luck just isn’t there. The fact that he has his team at 3-5 is a testament to his terrific play under center. On the other hand, can a season really be a success when a team can’t come close to a playoff berth?
Ultimately, our answer to that question is yes. Not every team enters the season with a realistic chance of making the postseason. That’s why Reich should feel comfortable spending the rest of the year trying to evaluate his roster. Whether or not the Colts win five or seven games is immaterial. It’s all about understanding the team’s needs heading into the offseason.
If a few more building blocks can emerge down the stretch, this will go down as really good first season for Reich. This hasn’t been a great year for fans in Indianapolis, but they have every right to be solidly encouraged.